Dennis Banks American Quotations

It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways.

In 1967 the last Unity Caravan was held.

Many young Japanese were hearing for the first time the words of Native people from the West.

When we arrived in Japan in 1988, we were not prepared for the overwhelming support shown to us.

When the run is over, there will be a closing ceremony and the runners will return to the many distant lands from which they came.

What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride.

At the first gathering of the Elders' Circle in 1976, a statement was issued concerning the unique balance between Humankind and our Mother Earth.

Rather than point fingers at corporations, we came to the conclusion that we should strengthen our own ceremonies, strengthen what we do.

In 1990 we ran across Europe through 13 countries and covering 7,130 miles.

Then a strong bond develops as they ride together, pray together, eat meals together, and gather in the evening remembering the day's run.

An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong.